Folding car-step.



P. J. STRIMPLE.

FOLDING OAR STEP.

APPLwATIoN FILED AUG. 4, 191s.

1,079,452, Patente@ Nov. 25, 1913.l

zinns-sum 1.

/ /4 mento/r,

P. J. STRIMPLE.

FOLDING GAR STEP,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1913, 1,079,452, Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

2 BHBETS-SHEET 2,

envi/humo (j UNITED STATES PATENT F'FCE.

PIERCE J'. STRIMPLE, OF SEKTAN, OHIO.-

FOLDING CAR-STEP.

Application filed August 4, 1913.

the artto which it appertains to make and use the same. l l

This invention .relates to new and useful improvements in folding car steps.

The object of the invention resides i i the provision of a bottom step for the platform of vehicles and particularly steam railroad vehicles and to means for raising and lowering the step. To this-end the invention contemplates utilizing compressed air from the train line to actuate the step.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of such Aa device which is easily operated and which ,is fully eiicient under varying conditions of service.

The invention still further contemplates the provision of such a device possessingr maximum simplicity of struct-ure so that `it is durable in use rnd may be manufactured at a comparative low cost. l

With these and other objects in view, the -invention resides in the 'novel combination,` formation and arrangement of parts to be more fully hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the platform steps with the improved. folding step and means for actuating the same, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of what is shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. lis a longitudinal sectional view taken through the valve7 Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view therethrough on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the bracket for holding the step engaging i'iod. A

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein is shown'the preferred embodiment of the invention, 5 designates Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Pate-ii ted Nov. 19t 3.

sei-iai No. 782,933.

the platform "of a car and 6 the sideboards or stringers with which are associated the usual tread portions 7 and .risers 8 rcrining steps for entering or leaving the car. The extension step portion comprises a riser 9, hinged as at l0 to the vouter edge of the lower tread portion and a tread portion f is hinged as at 12 to thebottoin of the ris-,er

- 9 so that the said tread cannot swing to au angle of more than 9G degrees. Vif'hen this extensmii step is folded, it is observed that the-same is disposed'iincer the ioivermost vstationary tread and thus forms no obstruction or inconvenience when it is not in use.

For moving the step to folded position, a bai' 13 is pivoted at 14C toeach side of the tread portion l1 and is slidably` mounted in brackets 15 disposed on the outer faces of the side portions 6 of the stationary step. Each of these brackets comprises a base plate 16 and a second plate lThaviiig its end portions 18 inwardly oiiset, bolts 19 being passed through the end portions 18- and through the hase plate to secure the brackets in posit-ion. Rollers 20 are provided having piiitles 2l journaled in the plates and the bar -13 extends between these rollers to reduce the. friction incident to its movement. Means are provided for actuating this bar by means ofcompressed air from the train line to fold or untold the step. To accomplish this, a cylinder 22 is positioned on the outer face of each side portieri 6 and held by the straps Slidable in each cylinder is a piston 24 from which extends outwardly of the cylinder a stem 25 having its free end threaded and held in a bore formed in an arm 26 and bolted to the operating rod 13 by means of the nuts 27 disposed on eachside of the arm. Tlievalve mechanism for supplyinffair to either end of these cylinders to told or unfold the steps *comprises a valve casing 28 disposed under the platform. A feed pipe 29 leads from the train lineto the. top central portion of the casing. An out-let pipe 30 leads from` one end of the casing to a pipe 3l which con-V nects the upper ends of the cylinders 'and a pipe 32 leads from the other end of the casing to a pipe 33 connecting the other ends of the cylinders. An exhaust pipe leads from the central portion of the cylinder, said npr .^^mmunicating with the casing on a: straight line between the communieating points of the pipes 3() and 32. The

valve head 34 is slidablc in the casing and has its top portion cutaway throughout its length and has thc intermediate portion of its bottom cutaway to form the passage 35. When the casing is at one limit of movement the air passes from the feed pipe through the top portion of the casing to the pipe 30 and fromthence to the pipe 31 which delivers it to the upper ends of the piston cylinders causing the pistons to move downwardlyand thus move the bars 13 and extend the steps, the air from the lower ends of the piston cylinders passing through the pipe 33 to the' pipe 32 and from thence through the passage 35 into the exhaust pipe. When it is desired to raise or fold the step the valve isI shifted and the operation above-described is reversed.

For 'actuating the valve head, a stem 36 extends outwardly therefrom and is pivotally connected to an arm 37 fixed to a shaft 38 which is suspended by thehangers 39 from the bottom of the platform. This shaftis rocked by a lever 40 fixed to and upstanding therefrom, a rack bar 4l being secured to the platform and a grip operated pawl 42 being carried by the lever whereby the shaft is held at either desired limit of movement.

It willlbe understood that various minor changes and modifications within the scope of the appended claims may be I nade without departing in any manner from the spirit of the invention, as for instance, other suitable means for actuating the valve may be used, if desired.

What is claimed is: 1. An extension car step comprising the combination with the platform steps, of a tread pivotally secured to the riser, brackets on the sides of the car steps, bars SlidaloleA in the brackets and pivotally connected to the outer portion of t combination with platform steps, of a hinged tread portion, cylinders'on the sides ofthe e tread, cylinders die`- posed on the sides of the steps, pistons l 45.

steps, pistons slidable in the cylinders and connected to the tread, a pipe connecting thev outer ends of the cylinders, a pipe connecting the inner ends of the cy11nders,'a valve casing, pipes connecting adjacent ends of the valve casing and the first-mentioned pipes, an inlet port in the upper end of the casing, an outlet port, and a valve head slidable in the casing and having its'A upper portion cutaway and being provided with a passage selectively connecting the outlet port and one of the pipes-commu` nicating with the first-mentioned pipes.

In. testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

PIERCIE J. STRIMPLE. s

lVitnesses W'. G. WEST, T. STRIMPLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

` Washington, D. C. 

